This is the life!

I have a great life, this is the life . . . (expand on worldly)

I have a good life (as a Christian) - - - expand on this

Most of us want to have a good life, we want to live it, but it maybe hard in this world since the world wants to destroy, or lure us away from the good life that offers to us. Sometimes blatantly, but oftentimes subtlety. We need to protect the good life we have in Christ.

I. An Appeal

A. (Slide) The world view

(Slide) Commercials tell us what we need for a good life

(Slide) Our surroundings try to tell us what we need for a good life

(Slide) The Bible says - (Slide)

1 John 2:15–17 NASB95

15Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.16For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.17The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

B. (Slide) Hedonism

(Slide) Hedonism (n) the pursuit of pleasure; sensual self-indulgence

(Slide) Self-indulgence, pleasure-seeking, self-gratification

(Slide) Solomon had that view, at least at one time, (Slide)

Ecclesiastes 8:15 NASB95

15So I commended pleasure, for there is nothing good for a man under the sun except to eat and to drink and to be merry, and this will stand by him in his toils throughout the days of his life which God has given him under the sun.

And if that were not enough, Isaiah points out one of the reasons the nation was going into captivity -

Isaiah 22:15 NASB95

15Thus says the Lord God of hosts,“Come, go to this steward,To Shebna, who is in charge of the royal household,

Isaiah 22:13 NASB95

13Instead, there is gaiety and gladness,Killing of cattle and slaughtering of sheep,Eating of meat and drinking of wine:“Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we may die.”

C. (Slide) Hedonism (love of pleasure) is the order for the day, order of the world

(Slide) If I only had . . . (Expand, job, house, friends, won the lottery)

(Transition) - Proverbs gives us examples of things to avoid and things to do.

II. An Alternative

A. (Slide) Dealing with Hedonism

(Slide) We have looked at (Slide) at the protections given and the reason why

Proverbs 6:20–24 NASB95

20My son, observe the commandment of your fatherAnd do not forsake the teaching of your mother;21Bind them continually on your heart;Tie them around your neck.22When you walk about, they will guide you;When you sleep, they will watch over you;And when you awake, they will talk to you.23For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching is light;And reproofs for discipline are the way of life24To keep you from the evil woman,From the smooth tongue of the adulteress.

We can see the warnings in Pro6:25-35 (will expand on this in next point)

B. (Slide) Foolishness of evil

F

(Slide) Foolishness of adultery (vv.24-26, 29, 32)

(Slide) Immorality in general (vv.30-32)

(Slide) Hedonism is not the way of real living, living the good life (vv.26-28, 34-35)

An Answer

Read Pro7:1-4

(Slide) Principle - Keep My commandments and live: interesting fact this phrase is used 4 times just in Proverbs alone, 3:1; 4:4, and our passage today 7:1 and 7:2 - I want to develop on this some more in just a minute

(Slide) Method - Keep the commandments of the Word as . . . When we treasure something we store it up (or lay up); we also protect it.

(Slide) Rational - the world, the truth and the choice

(Slide) Keep My Commandments (vv. 1, 2)

​

(Slide) Jesus says if you love me keep my commandments (Jn14:15)

(Slide) Keeping the commandments proves your love for God (Slide) ()

John 14:21 NASB95

21“He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.”

(Slide) Keeping the commandments of the Word as

A man keeps his money (stores up)

A man protects the apple of his eye

But God does more than that.

(Slide) God stores up wisdom (Slide) ()

Proverbs 2:7 NASB95

7He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,

(Slide) God wants us to store up treasures - ( Slide)

Matthew 6:20 NASB95

20“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;

(Slide) Remember you are the apple of God’s eye - (Slide)

Zechariah 2:8 NASB95

8For thus says the Lord of hosts, “After glory He has sent Me against the nations which plunder you, for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye.

(Slide) Allow God to keep you and protect you - (Slide)

Psalm 17:8 NASB95

8Keep me as the apple of the eye;Hide me in the shadow of Your wings

(Slide) As a priest in the O.T. bound God’s Word, you as a priest in the N.T. need to bind God’s word as . . . (Slide)

Deuteronomy 6:8 NASB95

8“You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead.

*****Insert a picture of man with placatory

(Slide) Worlds rational vs. God’s truth

(Slide) The world says religion is restricting; God’s word says it is freedom () or

(Slide) The world does not think about sin; God say’s watch out - () and it is like that roaring lion 1Pt5:8

May we remember God sent the Christ so we can be free, and there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ (Rom8:1) but that plan was recorded before (Slide) ()

Isaiah 6:1–3 NASB95

1In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple.2Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.3And one called out to another and said,“Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts,The whole earth is full of His glory.”

Don’t think there is anywhere you can go and hide from God; for he know all things, sees all things and all things will be made known - (Slide)

Mark 4:22 NASB95

22“For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it would come to light.

Remember sin is looking to take the good life from you - (Slide)

Genesis 4:7 NASB95

7“If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.”

Sin wants to separate you from God; and does -

The answer to the sin problem is Jesus, Jesus wants to give you the good life! - invitation